International Header

Adventure Cycling Association: Food and Water Strategies for Bikepacking

Water and food are always an important basic need for cyclists and the remote nature of some bikepacking routes makes self-reliance absolutely essential.

Adventure Cycling Association: Food and Water Strategies for Bikepacking

Last updated:
April 3, 2025
|  5 min read

Adventure Cycling Association: Food and Water Strategies for Bikepacking

Adventure Cycling Association: Food and Water Strategies for Bikepacking

YouTube video highlight

Water and food are always an important basic need for cyclists and the remote nature of some bikepacking routes makes self-reliance absolutely essential.

Read more about the project

Adventure Cycling Association: Food and Water Strategies for Bikepacking

Hakuna vipengee vilivyopatikana.

Food and Water Strategies for Bikepacking

Water and food are always an important basic need for cyclists, and the remote nature of some bikepacking routes makes self-reliance absolutely essential. Knowing your route can help you strike the right balance between going thirsty and hungry and lugging an unnecessarily heavy load. However, always err on the side of having too much water and food rather than too little.

Water
You’ll want to sip water throughout the day to avoid dehydration. For many cyclists this means 2 or 3 big gulps every 20 minutes, or at least 3.5 liters of water every 5 hours. In especially hot climates you may need more, but don’t go crazy; it’s actually possible to drink too much water, especially if you don’t replenish electrolytes (more on this below). If water is limited, stretch your supply further by drinking a liter every time you fill up, camping near water whenever possible, riding at cooler times of the day, and using the bare minimum for washing and cooking.

Continue reading to learn more about eating and drinking while bikepacking, written by Alissa Bell.

Adventure Cycling Association: Food and Water Strategies for Bikepacking

Food and Water Strategies for Bikepacking

Water and food are always an important basic need for cyclists, and the remote nature of some bikepacking routes makes self-reliance absolutely essential. Knowing your route can help you strike the right balance between going thirsty and hungry and lugging an unnecessarily heavy load. However, always err on the side of having too much water and food rather than too little.

Water
You’ll want to sip water throughout the day to avoid dehydration. For many cyclists this means 2 or 3 big gulps every 20 minutes, or at least 3.5 liters of water every 5 hours. In especially hot climates you may need more, but don’t go crazy; it’s actually possible to drink too much water, especially if you don’t replenish electrolytes (more on this below). If water is limited, stretch your supply further by drinking a liter every time you fill up, camping near water whenever possible, riding at cooler times of the day, and using the bare minimum for washing and cooking.

Continue reading to learn more about eating and drinking while bikepacking, written by Alissa Bell.

Mwandishi wa Blogu ya Picha
Mwandishi
Alissa Bell
Alissa loves wide open spaces, human-powered adventure, and getting in just a bit over her head (in a good way).
Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

Adventure Cycling Association: Food and Water Strategies for Bikepacking

Food and Water Strategies for Bikepacking

Water and food are always an important basic need for cyclists, and the remote nature of some bikepacking routes makes self-reliance absolutely essential. Knowing your route can help you strike the right balance between going thirsty and hungry and lugging an unnecessarily heavy load. However, always err on the side of having too much water and food rather than too little.

Water
You’ll want to sip water throughout the day to avoid dehydration. For many cyclists this means 2 or 3 big gulps every 20 minutes, or at least 3.5 liters of water every 5 hours. In especially hot climates you may need more, but don’t go crazy; it’s actually possible to drink too much water, especially if you don’t replenish electrolytes (more on this below). If water is limited, stretch your supply further by drinking a liter every time you fill up, camping near water whenever possible, riding at cooler times of the day, and using the bare minimum for washing and cooking.

Continue reading to learn more about eating and drinking while bikepacking, written by Alissa Bell.

Mwandishi wa Blogu ya Picha
Mwandishi
Alissa Bell
Alissa loves wide open spaces, human-powered adventure, and getting in just a bit over her head (in a good way).
Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari
browse all articles
Hapa kwenye Sawyer
January 22, 2026
6 Min
Backpacker: The Complete Peakbagging Packing List
Read More

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

Sawyer Squeeze + Cnoc VectoX 2L is responsible for all water filtration while packs are off, and the large reservoir enables cameling up.

Jaeger Shaw
Owner & Managing Editor

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

The Sawyer Mini is the cheapest and one of the most lightweight water purifiers on this list.

Steph Dyson
Freelance Travel Writer

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter – Ultralight, lifetime-warranty filter that removes bacteria and parasites.

Himiway Bike
Tovuti
<<  Previous Post
No previous post!
Check out our Directory
Next Post  >>
No next post!
Check out our Directory